Famous Bolivian Singer: Who Is The Country's Iconic Voice?

Bolivia has a rich musical history, with a range of famous singers and musicians. One of the most internationally recognised Bolivian bands of all time is a folklorica group from La Paz, whose name is not listed. However, the country's most famous female classical folk singer is Zulma Yugar, who has recorded over 50 albums and was named an Embajadora de la Canción for her work in promoting traditional music. Another famous singer is Luzmila Carpio, who has performed in Spanish and Quechua and served as a Bolivian ambassador to France. Gladys Moreno, a folklore singer from Eastern Bolivia, is also well-known, and was named the Bolivian Song Ambassador before her death in 2005.

Zulma Yugar, a folk singer and politician

Zulma Yugar is one of Bolivia's most famous singers and politicians. Yugar was born in the city of Oruro, Bolivia, on January 6, 1952, and rose to prominence as a folk singer with a strong vocal range that could swing between high and low notes. Her songs mostly deal with themes of love and broken relationships.

Yugar has received international recognition and influence for her musical talents, and she has recorded over fifty albums. She has also been involved in cultural promotion and patronage, serving as Director of the Bolivian Association of Artists, Performers, and Musicians. She has also held positions within the Ministry of Culture, serving as Director for the Promotion of Culture and, later, as Minister of Culture during the second term of President Evo Morales.

As Minister of Culture, Yugar played a crucial role in lobbying for UNESCO to recognize the Oruro Carnival as a masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. This achievement earned her the Simon Bolivar Medal. In addition, she has served as President of the Bolivian National Council of Popular and Traditional Culture, further solidifying her commitment to promoting and preserving Bolivian culture.

Yugar's recordings include "Tierra sin Mar (Land without Sea)" (1996), "K'oli Pankarita" (1991), "Grandes Exitos de Zulma Yugar" (1990), and "Piel Morena" (1981). She has received numerous awards and honours throughout her career and has been recognized as a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Luzmila Carpio, a singer and former ambassador

Luzmila Carpio is a Bolivian singer-songwriter, record producer, and former ambassador with Quechuan descent. She was born in 1949 in Qala Qala, a community near Ayllu Panacachi in the northern region of the Department of Potosi. She learned the daily songs of the Quechua and Aymara indigenous peoples of the Bolivian Altiplano from a young age.

Carpio's musical journey began when she was just 11 years old. She travelled to Oruro to sing for a radio show that gave children the opportunity to perform every Sunday. However, when she started singing in Quechua, the pianist shouted at her to come back when she knew how to sing in Spanish. This experience did not deter her, and she continued to pursue her passion for music. In her early teens, she moved to Oruro and joined a local group at the Technical University of Oruro, singing in Spanish. However, her heart remained connected to her native traditions, and by the age of 15, she joined a professional group called Los Provincianos, who sang in both Spanish and Quechua.

Carpio's music holds a significant role in the worldwide resurgence of indigenous heritage, raising awareness of cultural roots, and reconnecting people to the natural world, especially Pachamama (Mother Earth). Her decision to sing in Quechua rather than Spanish was a powerful statement of her commitment to preserving indigenous culture and protesting the dominance of Western cultural norms. Her art became a form of rebellion, advocating for the value and contributions of subordinated indigenous communities and fostering harmonious relationships among diverse peoples.

In the late 1980s, Carpio relocated to Paris to continue her musical evolution and gain recognition as a serious artist. Her talent and advocacy for indigenous rights earned her a prestigious political role. On April 21, 2006, President Evo Morales appointed her as Bolivia's ambassador to France, a position she held until March 31, 2010.

Throughout her career, Carpio has released more than 25 albums and composed over 120 songs. Her music explores themes connected to her indigenous heritage, cultural identity, the empowerment of women, environmental conservation, and the importance of indigenous spirituality in a changing world. Her album "Yuyay Jap'ina Tapes" was named one of Rolling Stone's 10 best Latin albums of 2015. Carpio's impact extends beyond her musical achievements; she is a cultural princess (or Ñusta) in her native Bolivia and a global ambassador of indigenous wisdom.

Jaime Laredo, a violinist and conductor

Laredo has appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, and London Symphonies, as well as the New York and Royal Philharmonics. He has performed under renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, and Eugene Ormandy, among others. In addition, Laredo is a member of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, which he formed in 1976 with his wife, cellist Sharon Robinson, and pianist Joseph Kalichstein. They have recorded several pieces together and have been featured soloists in a special concert conducted by Andrew Constantine.

Laredo's conducting career has included appearances with several notable orchestras, including those from Baltimore, Hartford, Houston, and Montreal. He also has a long-term association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, accompanying them on European and U.S. tours. He has been the conductor and Music Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra since 1999 and completed a twenty-year tenure as its Music Director in 2024. In addition to his conducting career, Laredo is also a dedicated educator and has taught at the Curtis Institute of Music since 1971. He was appointed to the faculty of Indiana University in 2005 and joined the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2012, where he currently serves as a professor.

Throughout his illustrious career, Laredo has earned numerous accolades and awards. He won the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium Competition in 1959, becoming the youngest performer to claim first place. He has also received the Deutsche Schallplatten Prize and several Emmy Award nominations. Additionally, he won a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance in 1992 as part of a collaboration with Emanuel Ax, Yo-Yo Ma, and Isaac Stern.

Gladys Moreno, a folklore singer

Gladys Moreno Cuéllar, born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, was a famous singer from Bolivia. Known for her beautiful voice, she recorded music as a folklore singer from Eastern Bolivia for over four decades. She was named the Bolivian Song Ambassador by the government of Víctor Paz Estenssoro in 1962 and also received the designation of "Condor de los Andes".

Moreno made her radio debut at the age of 15 in 1948 on Radio Electra. Her most popular song was the taquirari, "Viva Santa Cruz". Over her long career, she recorded several albums, including "La Voz Del Oriente Boliviano" in 1961, "Embajadora De La Cancion" in 1968, "La Embajadora De La Canción Vol. II" in 1979, and "El Disco De Oro De Gladys Moreno" in 1987.

In addition to her musical career, Moreno had a personal life that included marriage and family. In 1964, she married Alfredo Tomelic, and they had a daughter named Ana Carola. Sadly, Moreno passed away from a heart attack in 2005. However, her legacy continues to be honoured. In 2014, Bolivian President Evo Morales dedicated a life-size bronze statue of Moreno in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, titled "La Novia del Viento".

Gladys Moreno is remembered as a talented and influential singer who made significant contributions to Bolivian folklore music and culture. Her recordings and performances helped to preserve and promote the traditional rhythms, songs, and compositions of her country, solidifying her place as one of Bolivia's most beloved musical ambassadors.

Los Kjarkas, a folk band

Los Kjarkas is a Bolivian band from the Capinota province in the Cochabamba department, and one of the most popular Andean folk music bands in the country's history. The band was created in 1965 by the three Hermosa brothers of Cochabamba: Gonzalo, Ulises, and Wilson. They are often joined on stage by traditional instruments such as the zampona (Andean flute) and charango (banjo), and don traditional ponchos.

The band's leader has always been singer, guitarist, and songwriter Gonzalo Hermosa González. Other founding members include Gastón Guardia Bilboa and Ramiro de la Zerda. De la Zerda left the group to form Grupo Fortaleza, and Ulises Hermosa González passed away from cancer in 1992. Other members who have joined the group over the years include Edwin Castellanos, Elmer Hermosa, Makoto Shishido, Eduardo Yáñez Loayza, Rolando Malpartida Porcel, and José Luis Morales Rodríguez.

Los Kjarkas have founded two schools teaching Andean folk music: the Musical School of Kjarkas in Lima, Peru, and La Fundación Kjarkas in Ecuador. They have also toured across Japan, Europe, Scandinavia, the United States, South America, and Australia, and have composed over 350 songs. Their most popular songs include "Imillitay", "Al Final", "Canto a la mujer de mi pueblo", and "Pequeño Amor".

The group's music has also been used in other popular songs. An unauthorized translation of their song "Llorando se fue" resulted in Kaoma's hit "Lambada". The song was also sampled on Don Omar's "Taboo" and on Jennifer López's single "On the Floor". Los Kjarkas' song "Wayayay" was covered by Tarkan and adapted into Turkish. Their music was also used in the Argentine-Dutch film "Bolivia" (2001).

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